Do you know why you must become a great observer? As someone who sees the world through pictures (I am an extreme visual learner, with a hint of kinaesthetic thrown in and just a pinch of audio digital:) I am extremely observant of the world around me. It wasn’t always this way, I have always been an extreme visual from as far back as I can remember, however I didn’t use to pay much attention to the world around me back then. I was so busy on focusing on just making it through the day that I couldn’t see the wood for the trees. I was walking round in a daze most of the time, my only concern was how I was going to make it through the day, I had no thoughts of next week next month or next year. I can honestly say that I let numerous opportunities pass me by because I was so blind to what was going on around me. I had my heart severely broken because I was too blind to see what was going on right under my nose.

Take heed from my cautionary tale. You must become a great observer. In this day and age you need to keep up with what is happening around you, the world is changing so fast that what was true yesterday is seldom true a week later. You need to keep abreast of what is happening in your industry, keep track of the latest research and breakthroughs. You need to observe what is going on in your neighbourhood. Everything around you is affected by everything else around you, so it makes sense to know what is around you so that you know how it can effect you at any given time. Don’t be like I was and just concentrate on getting through the day, you will miss so many opportunities that it will literally make your head spin.

Don’t be oblivious to what is going on around you and what is going on right under your nose.

Pay attention to your surroundings, pay attention to what people around you are doing and saying, see where the trends are heading, see what opportunities are lurking in the shadows waiting for an observant person like you to spot them and bring them out into the light.

Opportunity is a master of disguise and usually likes to disguise himself as a problem or a set back.

One of opportunities favourite tricks is to hide in plain sight, he likes nothing more than to be standing right next to you while you are looking the other way.

Once you become a great observer I am sure that before too long you will find yourself staring opportunity right in the face.